Educational Programming

The philosophy of the education department at Temple Beth-El is to actively engage the learners in the process of their Judaism. We serve the educational needs of not just children and teens, but adults as well. Students are taught to appreciate the whys and the hows of our tradition as well as become the instrument to pass on their Judaic knowledge to future generations.

Prayer is central to what is taught in the Temple Beth-El Hebrew curriculum. It is how we communicate with God and with each other. Students will have a mastery of the weekday and Shabbat service and liturgy.

In addition to classroom instruction using the CHAI : Learning for Jewish Life curriculum developed by the URJ, field trips, weekend retreats, family connections and a variety of holiday celebrations round out the educational experience.

Here are just a few examples of such programs:

• School Activities – L’Dor V’Dor Intergenerational Day, drama (plays written by our faculty members and performed by our children), Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Series, Tzedakah projects benefiting various Jewish agencies.
• The Florence Melton Communiteen High School
• Adult Education – Study Kabbalah and Pirke Avot with our clergy, Sunday morning speaker series, literary discussions, Senior Shabbat retreat, tour of Jewish Chicago, Phyllis Podolsky Memorial Library.
• Family Programs – Parenting Our Teens, grade level family connections to enrich the experience of the school curriculum for students and parents.